Many speakers expressed regret that they were unable to agree on a way forward.

‘‘Whatever the outcome, there is no victory in the coming days,’’ said the Rev. Angus MacLeay, summing up for the opposition. ‘‘It is a train crash.’’

The defeat was a setback for the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who retires at the end of December, and his successor, Bishop Justin Welby. Both had strongly endorsed a proposed compromise that they hoped would end decades of debate on the issue in the church, which has around 80 million members worldwide.

The Rev. Rachel Weir, leader of Women and the Church, said the group was ‘‘absolutely devastated.’’

‘‘Not just devastated on behalf of clergy women — obviously this will be an enormous blow to clergy women, it’s awful for their morale — but it’s a disaster for the Church of England.’’

Passage of legislation to allow women to serve as bishops must be approved by two-thirds majorities in the synod’s three houses: bishops, priests, and laity.

Church officials say it may take five years to go through the process of taking new legislation to a final vote.